Spencer's sexual assault trial opens

Jury selected, both opening arguments presented

2:53 AM,
Sep. 11, 2013

Attorney Rocky Ratliff, left, talks with defendant Randy Spencer during jury selection Tuesday in Spencer's trial on rape charges involving a 5-year-old girl. The trial is at the Edward J. Ruzzo Juvenile Justice Center because the elevator in the Marion County Courthouse is being repaired.

Written by

Nick Bechtel
The Marion Star

In the first day of what is expected to be a weeklong trial, counsel for the defense and prosecution selected a jury and delivered opening statements in the case against Randy Spencer.

Angie Canepa, assistant section chief of the Special Prosecution Section of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office, told the jurors that evidence would show Spencer sexually assaulted a child.

Canepa said Spencer had a 5-year-old child perform sexual acts in April. She said the acts were performed once in Caledonia and on multiple occasions in Marion. She said he had access to the children through a woman ...